John 8:1-2 1. Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

Verse one [A] I always find it interesting that Jesus spent so much time alone, and that he spent so much time outdoors, in such places as the Mount of Olives [B] The Mount of Olives [1] The Mount of Olives was so called because of the olive trees that grew on its sides [2] It is a mountain ridge on the east of Jerusalem and is separated from Jerusalem by the Kidron valley. [3] The mount of Olives is frequently mentioned in the New Testament [4] It now bears the name of Jebel et-Tur, which means "Mount of the Summit;" and is also referred to as Jebel ez-Zeitun, or the "Mount of Olives." [5] It stands about 200 feet above the level of the city of Jerusalem. [6] The road from Jerusalem to Bethany runs as of old over this mount, and it was on this mount that Jesus stood when he wept over Jerusalem. [7] It was from the Mount of Olives that Jesus did much teaching, and where he went often to pray - It was there that he was betrayed by Judas and arrested before he was crucified. [8] This mount, or rather this mountain range, has four summits or peaks: [a] The "Galilee" peak, so called from a tradition that the angels stood here when they spoke to the disciples (Acts 1:11); [b] The "Mount of Ascension," the supposed site of that event, which was, however, somewhere probably nearer Bethany (Luke 24:51, 52); [c] The "Prophets," from the catacombs on its side, called "the prophets' tombs; [d] The "Mount of Corruption," so called because of the "high places" erected there by Solomon for the idolatrous worship of his foreign wives.

Verse two [A] Apparently Jesus spent the night on the mountain, whether praying or sleeping or both I do not know

[B] Early the following morning, that would be the morning after the end of the Feast of the Tabernacles, Jesus went back into Jerusalem and into the temple.

[C] When he arrived the people flocked to him to hear him teach and to see what he would do

[D] As Jesus always did, he found a spot, sat down and began to teach them.

John 8:3-4 3. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4. They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

[A] While Jesus was teaching, the scribes and Pharisees, brought a women to him, who had been caught in the very act of adultery

[B] In the eyes of the Jewish law adultery was a very serious crime. [1] The Rabbis said: "Every Jew must die before he will commit idolatry, murder or adultery." [2] Adultery was, in fact one of the three gravest sins and it was punishable by, death, although there were certain differences in respect of the way in which the death penalty was to be carried out. Lev.20:10 lays it down for us: Leviticus 20:10 10. If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death." [3] There the method of death is not specified. [4] The question I want to ask you is, How many people does it take for any adulterous situation to have occurred? [a] Answer - two [5] Who many people did the Jewish leaders bring to Jesus? [a] One [6] When adultery occurred, what did the Law of Moses say - who was to be put to death? [a] Both the man and the woman [7] Where was the man? Why was he not brought along with the woman? She was caught in the very act, according to the Leaders of the Jews, therefore the man had to be present as well.

John 8:5-11 5. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6. This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11. She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Verse five [A] The Jewish leaders made the claim that Moses had ordered that anyone who was caught in adultery was to be stoned

[B] Does the law we read earlier tell us what the punishment was to be?

[C] All the law stated was that both was to be put to death, it did not specify the way or means for the deaths

Verse six [A] Verse six tells us what the leaders of the Jews were trying to do, they were tempting Jesus to see what he would say and do. [1] Would he agree with the law and say that he agreed with it, she should be stoned [2] Would he disagree and tell the leaders that they needed to forgive the woman that the law was not right concerning her [3] What could he or would he do?

[B] What did he do? [1] Jesus said nothing [2] He bent down and began writing on the ground. There is no way to know what he as writing, all we know is that he wrote, and paid little attention to what was going on around him. [3] Keep in mind that Jesus was not there alone, there was a mob of people who were there before the leaders arrived, and they too were watching and waiting to see what he would say or do.

Verse seven [A] As he wrote, ignoring them, they continued to press him, asking him what they were to do

[B] After some time, Jesus looked up, and said, ye who are without sin, cast the first stone. [1] He didn’t look at each person, causing them shame, [2] He didn’t point his finger at them [3] He only said ye who are without sin, cast the first stone

Verse eight & nine [A] After Jesus made his statement, he went back to writing in the dirt once again.

[B] He acted as if he could really care less what they did.

[C] He allowed his words to sink in, without any help other then what he Holy Spirit gave him

[D] One by one, from the eldest to the youngest, they all turned and walked away

[E] Why did the oldest walk away first? [1] They understood his words quicker [2] They had more age therefore they had more sin

[F] Soon all that was left was Jesus and the woman, and I would guess those who had come out to hear him teach before the leaders brought the woman out to him

Verse ten [A] When Jesus looked up all the leaders were gone, when he asked the woman where here accusers were - she told him they were gone

[B] I can’t help but wonder what was going through this woman’s mind about now

Verse eleven[A] When she told him her accusers were gone, what did Jesus say? [1] Neither do I condemn thee [2] Go and sin no more [B] Questions [1] What does this tell you about forgiveness? [2] Is it OK to sin once our sins are washed away? [3] What if we do sin, can we be forgiven?

John 8:12-18 12. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 13. The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true. 14. Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. 15. Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. 16. And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. 17. It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. 18. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

Verse 12 [A] Jesus said the he was the light of the world [1] What did he meant by this statement [2] How was he the light of the world

[B] He also said that those who follow him would have the light [1] Explain what this means [2] Why does the follower have the light

Verse 13 [A The Pharisees started condemning Jesus - [1] They said - you bear witness of yourself [a] What does this mean? [b] Why did it matter if he bare witness of himself?

Verse 14 [A] Jesus said - Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go

[B] Questions [1] What did Jesus mean that he bear record of himself? [2] What was he talking about when he said his record was true? [3] What did he mean when he said, I know whence I came and where I go?

Verse 15 [A] Ye Judge after the flesh [1] What does it mean to judge after the flesh? [2] What does he mean here when he referred to the flesh

[B] Jesus said, “I judge no man.” [1] Why did he not judge any man [2] Who or what is the judge of man? [3] How will we be judged? [4] For what will we be judged?

Verse 16 [!] Jesus said he was able to judge, and if he did, which he did not, then his judgment was true. [1] What was he referring to here? [2] Why was his judgement true, but not theirs?

Verse 17 [A] Jesus told them that their law took two witnessed to prove against or for a person

[B] Deuteronomy 17:6 6. At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.

[C] Deuteronomy 19:15 15. One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. [1] Indeed it took two people to witness against someone in order for that person to be convicted. [2] One person could not be trusted, nor was his or her word good enough [3] It was much less likely for two to lie, and even more unlikely for three to have the exact same story.

Verse 18 [A] Jesus stated that he was one man, and the Father was another - Both stated the same thing therefore they should be believed

John 8:19 19. Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

[A] The Jews asked Jesus, Where is thy Father? [1] This was a legitimate question [2] If the Father was going to testify for his son, he needed to be there - Right? [3] They were saying to Jesus, If your father exists, show him to us.

[B] Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: [1] How could this be? [2] How could men who were trained in the books of the law, their torah, our Old Testament - not know the Father? [3] It has been said that in the time of Christ, the Jewish faith had fallen far from where it ought to have been - the Priest were more concerned about the Law, and enforcing the Law than they were about the people and their salvation. They were more concerned about people looking up to them, then looking up to God. They were more concerned about their appearances and ho people were to bow down and worship them, then they were about teaching love and compassion to the masses. It was all about money, fame and fortune for the priest. Very little was about God and the things of God. The Priesthood was corrupted, the temple was corrupted, and their religion was practically worthless. [4] Jesus came at a time when the Priesthood and the religion of the Jews was in moral shambles. This is why he referred to the Priest as whitewashed walls, and broods of vipers. [a] What was it about Jesus that keep them from seeing the truth - after all the scriptures all pointed to him and his coming? [b] How could they have read and studied the word of God, and yet be so far off the mark from where they ought to have been. [C] What did Jesus mean when he said, If you had known me, you would have known my father? [1] How does knowing Jesus make one know God the Father? [2] Can one know the Father without knowing Christ? [3] I once had a professor when I was preparing for the ministry, tell the class that we could not know God for God is a mystery? [a] Can we know God? [b] Can we know Christ? [c] Why is it important that we know him? [d] What happens if we do not know Christ? [e] What does knowing him entail?